Peanut Butter Treats for Dogs + Kids

What’s your take on sugar?

I love sugar, of course. I strive to avoid it but. #cookies

Now, as a parent, I find myself having to choose between the “do as I say, not as I do” approach or sneaking all the cookies after Violet’s gone to bed… 😉

Honestly, though, I’m not sure a militant “no junk food” approach is the right one because how else with kiddos learn moderation and self-regulation? Nor do I think sugary stuff should be a free-for-all. This post, in fact, has me rethinking my take. Here’s the opening:

“Kids who regularly get to eat as much as they want of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods become as relaxed and casual about eating them as they do other food. They don’t go off the deep end and consume a lot of sweets, chips, and sodas when they become older school-age children and adolescents and can get it on their own. Instead, they continue to be relaxed, positive, and competent with eating junk food the same as other food.”

That’s what we all want, right? A relaxed, positive attitude toward food? Heck, yes!

That said, I’m not fully on board with unfettered access to junk.

When it comes to our dogs, those little creatures whose teeth we don’t brush twice a day, less-is-more is an even bigger deal to me. It makes me insane to see sugar added to dog treats.

I’ve been tooling around with the idea of shareable treats, little snacks that kids + pets can enjoy together. It cuts down on my homemade-treat-making time, for one thing, but then I also know what they’re getting in their snacks!

Here’s my current favorite recipe with a caveat: If you consume lots of super-sweet snacks or beverages, this won’t satisfy that sweet tooth. This is a subtle sweet… sort of like swapping Diet Coke for La Croix!

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Peanut Butter Treats for Dogs + Kids

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup natural, no-sugar-added applesauce
• ½ cup all-natural, no-salt-or-sugar-added peanut butter (if you avoid nuts, or if you kiddo can’t take stuff with nuts in it to school, try this instead… it’s pet-safe, too)
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• 1 tablespoon raw honey (note that honey isn’t recommended for kiddos under one…)

Combine all the ingredients. Knead. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.

Then, scoop out one-inch balls and drop them an inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Press down with the tines of a fork, or get fancy with stamps or cookie presses. #nojudgement

Bake at 325 degrees (F) for 15 to 20 minutes.

Allow them to cool before serving to pups or kiddos. Store them in the fridge. They’re good for a day or two (but they probably won’t last that long!).

They’re a naturally sweet treat that you won’t feel bad about drizzling with chocolate sauce and enjoying after bedtime… No? Just me?

Let me know what your pets think of these! Or your kids! Or you!

For even quicker and easier dog treat recipes (no one will want to share these with your dog) check out the two simplest DIY dog treats ever!